Portland is losing our progressive radio station

KPOJ (620 AM) reportedly dropping political format

The Portland Web is buzzing today about a reported format change coming to radio station KPOJ (620 AM), which bills itself as "Portland's Progressive Talk Station." BlueOregon's Kari Chisholm posted earlier today about KPOJ host Carl Wolfson announcing on his Facebook page that KPOJ was dropping its politically oriented programming as of Monday.

Willamette Week's Aaron Mesh reports that KPOJ, which is owned by Clear Channel Radio, is switching to an all-sports format coming this Monday.

6. Thom Hartmann doesn't agree

Hartmann said, "I don't see any evidence that this is a political game being played" by Clear Channel. But Hartmann's guest, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, expressed concern that radio is dominated by "extreme right-wing" hosts. "We have got to figure out a way," Sanders said, to give radio listeners alternatives to "Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity." He said, "That's a major, major issue."

Hartmann did go on in the article to say that ratings had been up, but there is nothing in the article that details revenues, either by individual host or overall.

9. After The Elections It's All About The Bucks...

After Willard lost Bain/Cheap Channel has little motivation to own the hundreds of stations they do...the company they bought in '07 and this signals the first moves in what Bain does...fatten up the turkeys before they're sold off.

Cheap Channel has a nearly 15 billion dollar debt...a lot tied up in radio stations that have lost both advertising and overall "stick" or property value in recent years. Talk radio on the whole (and most specifically) hate radio have become an economic liability as advertisers are staying away. Sports talk is far less controversial, requires almost no local talent...just plug into the satellite and could help increase the value of the station to a potential buyer.

It's a shame that such a fine station is no more...but it's a canary in the coal mine...radio is in a very distressed situation as the corporates destroy what was left of a once vibrant and fun business...